All along, unbeknownst to anyone but coach Urban Meyer, Cardale Jones was ahead of J.T. Barrett in Ohio State’s quarterback competition.
Even the quarterbacks themselves were kept in the dark until the end. Meyer said last week that he would inform Barrett and Jones on Saturday which one would start against Virginia Tech. According to Jones, Meyer didn’t.
Even during the game’s first possession, when Ohio State was on defense, the quarterbacks didn’t know. Both assembled in the huddle near the sideline. Jones didn’t know what he was supposed to do, so he took a couple steps toward the bench, only to be informed by a coach — he didn’t specify which one — that he would start.